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by Joe Nimmo, Senior reporter. Call me on (01865) 425373

THE man who killed Jayden Parkinson after she told him she was pregnant has a history of abusive and violent relationships, a jury has heard.

Ben Blakeley, who denies murdering the 17-year-old but has admitted manslaughter, was accused of punching, kicking and trying to strangle previous girlfriends, even allegedly biting one girl's face.

Prosecutor Richard Latham QC said on one occasion the defendant threw a 16-year-old girl down the stairs while she was seven months pregnant with his baby.

He described Blakeley as a man "who seriously injures women" and had either intended to kill Jayden - who died from pressure to the neck and had bruises on her face - or cause her really serious injury.

Her body was found in the grave of the defendant's uncle, Alan Kennedy, in a cemetery next to All Saint's Church in Didcot on December 18 last year.

Blakeley is on trial at Oxford Crown Court accused of murdering Jayden on December 3 after it is said she told him she was pregnant with his child.

He has also pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice along with a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, who allegedly helped him bury his victim’s body.

Mr Latham had described Blakeley’s relationship with his 17-year-old girlfriend as “controlling, obsessive and abusive”.

Mr Latham said that it was only after his co-defendant told police where she was buried that Jayden’s body was found and exhumed.

The youth on trial with Blakeley denies preventing a lawful burial between December 2 and December 10 last year.

Mr Latham has said the 17-year-old has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice "on a wholly unacceptable basis".

He claims to have thought Blakeley was burying a "cat and a dog" in his uncle's grave in Didcot and didn't realise it was really his ex-girlfriend.

Mr Latham said: "Our case is that (the 17-year-old) knew what was going on."

The trial continues.

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